The Big Easy prepares for its 11th Super Bowl
When the NFL added another week to its usual 17-week schedule in 2021, this created a small problem between the Super Bowl LVIII and this year’s Mardi Gras in New Orleans. As a result, 2025’s Super Bowl was moved to New Orleans and Super Bowl LVIII took place in Las Vegas, a first for the city and accompanied by much fanfare.
But as things cool down on The Strip, eyes are now set on Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans. This will be the city’s 11th time hosting the Super Bowl, tying it with Miami, which hosted Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium in 2020 for its 11th time. The game in 2025 is scheduled to take place at Caesars Superdome, set for a completed $500 million renovation this July.
Over time, one thing that becomes clear is the NFL’s evolution, says Stephanie Turner, New Orleans & Company’s senior vice president of convention sales and strategies. “The brand is evolving, and as the game evolves and the events around it, so do destinations. For me, just the observance of Las Vegas’ first [Super Bowl], having that palette where they could go in and apply Las Vegas to this game, to the stadium, was great to watch.”’
Read More: Countdown to Super Bowl LVIII: Q&A with Las Vegas Super Bowl Committee
Turner says the lesson for her and her team from watching Las Vegas handle the Super Bowl is the need to continually evolve and understand the needs of your customer, whether it’s the NFL, a large association or a corporate meeting. “This particular year was very important [for Las Vegas],” she says. “They had a fresh start. We’ve got 10 [Super Bowls] behind us. So reminding us to evolve, to improve, to stretch to new heights. That to me is a great Hallmark to look to.”
Whether you’re New Orleans or Miami, there has to be a reason the NFL would choose a city so frequently. Turner says she believes the appeal of New Orleans comes from it being so compact. “It’s a campus really, and a 2.5-mile radius. Everything is walkable. The ease to get from the stadium to the media center. The distance between the convention center and the dome, where the media center will be.” From this, Turner says visitors know that that particular Super Bowl is happening in New Orleans and that all those participating love the sense of community that takes place. “That’s one of the most wonderful things, to be here and watch larger groups move through the city.” With downtown and The French Quarter nearby, this also adds to the overall experience.
Despite having the benefit of so many Super Bowls and repeat customers, Turner says she wants to ensure the experience is fresh and true to what the city is. “We’re very good at rallying our community and bringing the hospitality community together. We don’t ever take anything for granted, we work very hard to make sure it feels like the first time the NFL, or any other group, has been with us, and that we’re hearing them and listening and understanding what’s important.”
And part of fostering a sense community is partnering and highlighting local businesses, which the NFL is doing with its supplier diversity program, presenting the opportunity for local businesses, as well as minority-, women-, persons with disabilities-, LGBTQ+- and veteran-owned businesses to gain exposure through sub-contracting during Super Bowl LIX.
Read More: The Diversity Among Us
“One of the most wonderful things about the Super Bowl is it has lasting impacts in the community and the lasting impacts that the supplier diversity program will yield. Kevin Ferguson, our vice president of external affairs, is working with our member community and NFL on that….You always see in cities the lasting impact of the Super Bowl, it can be more corporate meetings that book or high-end leisure travel or, in this instance, diversity programs, give backs and corporate social responsibility programs. The NFL does an incredible job of touching so many areas of our community and this diversity program I’m very excited about.”
Also exciting are the details of the soon-to-be-finished Superdome, which will feature new entrances at its Gate C—Champions Square entrance—as well as the addition of new escalators and elevators (where there were previously concrete ramps) that will take guests from the ground floor to the 400 level. The dome will also feature the Legends Sideline Club on its 200 level, where there will be seating, televisions and multiple concessions. A third atrium will also be created in the dome’s Southwest Corner.
In addition to hosting the Super Bowl and being fresh off of a renovation, next year will also be the Superdome’s 50th anniversary. This will also be the eighth time the Superdome has hosted the Super Bowl, a record for most Super Bowls hosted in a stadium, marking a huge milestone for the venue in multiple ways.
Visitors to New Orleans will also see several hotel changes when they make their way to the city. This summer, Caesars Entertainment is rebranding and renovating its Harrah’s property into Caesars New Orleans, which will also house the 54-room Nobu Hotel New Orleans and Nobu restaurant within it. “There’s a lot of investment taking place. We’re just very excited about the ability to host the NFL. It always makes competition for the future. You always want to deliver a great result, I think that you feel an inherent responsibility. As this is our 11th, we have to do the best one yet.”
